Ukraine proposes gas transit from Azerbaijan amid EU tensions
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has announced that the country is ready to transit gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. This move could potentially alter the region's energy landscape. However, experts are skeptical about whether this route can effectively replace supplies from Russia, whose resources the EU is seeking to abandon.
During a press conference in Kyiv, President Zelensky outlined Ukraine's willingness to facilitate the transit of gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, also attended the meeting.
Zelensky emphasized that Azerbaijan has significant export capabilities, with an output of approximately 25 billion cubic metres of gas. "We can use our infrastructure if countries in Europe need gas, but not Russian gas," he stressed.
Despite Zelensky's announcement, experts have reservations about Azerbaijan's capacity to supply adequate gas volumes to Europe.
Aura Sabadus, a gas market expert from the consulting firm ICIS, explained to Politico that Baku lacks sufficient gas reserves and is currently exceeding its capacity. She also indicated that new agreements with Azerbaijan might include volume swaps, potentially labelling Russian gas as Azeri.
Russian gas divides the European Union
On Monday, EU foreign ministers in Brussels are scheduled to discuss the issue of gas transit through Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has threatened to veto EU sanctions against Russia if Ukraine does not agree to resume transit.
The flow of gas to the EU through Ukraine ceased at the end of 2024 when the transit agreement expired.
"If the Ukrainians want help, for example sanctioning the Russians, then let's reopen the gas transit routes and allow the central European countries, including Hungary, to receive the gas we need through Ukraine," stated the Hungarian leader, known for his amicable relations with the Kremlin.
